RabiLAMP: A RAPID RABIES DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE FOR VETERINARY PRACTICE

Abstract

Rabies remains a major zoonotic disease requiring rapid diagnosis to support timely disease control, surveillance, and outbreak response. Conventional diagnostic methods, including the direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT) and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTqPCR), require centralized laboratories, specialized equipment, trained personnel, and, in the case of DFAT, invasive brain tissue collection. These limitations reduce the accessibility of rapid diagnosis for routine veterinary practice. To address this gap, the Institute of Health and Community Medicine (IHCM), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, launched RabiLAMP in June 2026 as a rapid rabies diagnostic service for private veterinary clinics in Sarawak. The service enables veterinarians to submit noninvasive saliva samples from suspected animals for rapid molecular testing, reducing reliance on brain tissue collection during the initial assessment of suspected rabies cases. RabiLAMP utilizes a validated colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay requiring only a simple water bath or heating block, with results available within 60 minutes. The assay demonstrated 95.83% sensitivity, 98.39% specificity, and 97.67% diagnostic accuracy for saliva samples compared with RT-qPCR. Validation using brain tissue also achieved 90.57% sensitivity, 95.74% specificity, and 93.00% diagnostic accuracy compared with DFAT, and 100.00% sensitivity, 98.04% specificity, and 98.04% diagnostic accuracy compared with RT-qPCR. RabiLAMP improves access to rapid molecular diagnostics for veterinary practice while supporting surveillance and outbreak response. Furthermore, it demonstrates the successful translation of university research into a diagnostic service and establishes a strong foundation for future commercialization of the RabiLAMP diagnostic kit.